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The Great Prince of the Forest never gave the time or effort to make friends. He was the protector, keeping silent vigil over his lands, and never let himself be seen unless it's for a rare occasion or to warn his subjects of danger. For countless generations, a stag had always ruled as the Great Prince of the Forest, responsible for not only the safety of his home and subjects during his reign, but to also choose or, more often than not, procreate, his successor.
Each Prince had selected a wise, calm mate to bear his successor, and though it was not uncommon to have several mates to produce several offspring, usually the first mate's firstborn was chosen to become the next Great Prince. The Prince's mate would raise the future Prince with compassion, wisdom, and gentle yet firm lessons about living in the Forest. Ideally, the young fawn would grow into his role, and would take over the Great Prince's reign when he fully matured. But sometimes, there were obstacles, both internal and external.
Bambi's father, the current Prince of the Forest, won his reign by fighting and defeating the original heir, who had grown savage and arrogant in anticipation of ruling the Forest. Bambi's father had taken it upon himself to confront the mad young Prince and challenge him to a duel, to see who was truly destined to rule the Forest. It was a long, gruesome battle, which simultaneously frightened and intrigued the creatures of the Forest, who had gathered round to see who their future Prince would be. Bambi's mother would later tell her son that it was both during and after this battle that made her fall in love with his father.
After his mother's passing, Bambi spent a great deal of time wandering around the Forest, lost in thought, and learning as much as he could through observations and conversations with his future subjects. His main concern with becoming the next Great Prince wasn't necessarily the responsibilities, but the apparent lack of friends.
It was a well-known fact that the Great Prince of the Forest did not stay close to anyone; certainly, his distance from raising his son was enough proof of that. The thought of Bambi losing the companionship of Thumper and Flower was too much to bear.
Unable to deal with the pain of losing his friends prematurely, Bambi sought out the counsel of Friend Owl, who was one of the shrewdest creatures of the Forest. When he voiced his concerns, the old bird chuckled and ruffled his feathers in amusement.
"Young Prince, what makes you think that your father has no friends?"
"I- Well, everyone else seems to think so!" Bambi stuttered.
"Does 'everyone else' know the Great Prince personally?"
"Ummm...."
"Well, not to brag, but I do, Young Prince, and I am one of the Great Prince's closest friends. I've known him since he was born, just like I saw your birth."
Bambi stared up in surprise. Friend Owl hooted sympathetically.
"I know what ails you, Young Prince. You see your magnificent father, the Great Prince of the Forest, and wonder to yourself how anyone can live so long and rule so wisely, and yet still never make time for friends or loved ones. But that does not mean he does not care. The Great Prince cares more deeply for his late mate, your beloved mother, and you, and all of his subjects, than you or I could possibly imagine. He has spent years getting to understand the forest, from the oldest root to the newest leaf, from old recluses like myself to every new generation of baby rabbits. Did you know he had lived two decades before finally choosing your mother as his mate?"
Bambi shook his head, in awe.
"Your father takes his role as Great Prince very seriously, especially since it wasn’t bestowed upon him from birth like it has been for you. He may seem distant and cold, but he is actually very wise and compassionate. But he is also strict and protective, hence why he doesn't always seem to make time for friends or family. Think, Young Prince, did you spend every waking moment with your mother?"
"No, I had Thumper and Faline--"
"And thus, you didn't always witness times when your mother would bring up the last time she saw her mate, which, as I heard about from gossiping birds, happened several times every passing season. And you wouldn't know that the Great Prince was here, at my tree, only yesterday, to pass the time, would you?"
Bambi lowered his head. Friend Owl cocked his head briefly and nodded sagely when the young fawn slowly looked up again.
"Yes, Young Prince, not all friendships are about playtime or how often you see one another. Sometimes the most lasting of friends are the ones who understand that you cannot always be around, but you will always be there to depend on. And the same goes to how your father treats you," he added shrewdly.
"How did you--"
"Dear Bambi, I've lived in this Forest long before the first Great Prince arrived to rule our fair land. I do believe I recognize child loneliness when I see it. Your father loves you, and has always looked after you. The two of you may not shoot the breeze like my feathered-brained neighbors, but I believe he knows you better than you give him credit for. And in time, you'll know him just as well."
It would indeed be quite some time before Bambi fully understood his father. But his conversation with Friend Owl certainly made him appreciate the Great Prince more. And when he started heading back home to his quiet little den, he could have sworn he saw the figure of a great stag standing off in the shadows, watching him in silence....